AI, Automation, and the Future of Sales Engineering w/Patty Hager

This episode delves into Ron Whitson's career journey as a presales professional, highlighting essential lessons learned along the way. While his technical skills initially secured my role, it was mastering human skills that truly accelerated his success.  Episode Takeaways Imposter syndrome never really goes away To excel as a presales professional, focus on human skills There’s always something new to learn if you look for it Guidance on growing into leadership as a presales professional Closing Advice One of the best pieces of advice I received was from an IBM executive: “Run to the problem.” In presales, identifying issues and devising solutions proactively can set you apart. Connect with Ron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronwhitsonse/ Timeless Behaviors Book: https://timelessbehaviors.com/    

Liz Anderson directs the PreSales Collective Enablement programming, from PreSales Academy through leadership training, channeling her PreSales experience through to world-class programming and facilitation.  Liz has well over a decade of experience and PreSales from organizations, large and small, from Slack to startups. Episode Takeaways Presales enablement is essential to prioritize and needs a balance between technical and soft skills. Learning is best done with others both for practice and for accountability. You are responsible for your own growth; create a plan that includes improving on things you’re already good at. You can connect with Liz Anderson here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizandersonpresales/ PreSales Enablement Programming: https://www.presalescollective.com/programs/live-courses For team training - please reach out!! Thank you for tuning in.  

Join Chris Mabry and Daniel Kish as they explore Daniel's unique career journey from chemical engineering to product marketing, with experience across military consulting, Salesforce, Gong, and Conveyor. He shares insights on the value of understanding technical details and balancing cost, performance, and time—lessons learned from his Special Forces tenure. Daniel emphasizes that effective product marketing requires collaboration beyond the marketing department, particularly with presales teams. He advocates for proactive outreach and communication councils to align messaging and strategy. The episode also delves into Conveyor's AI-driven tool for automating security reviews, reducing the administrative burden on sales engineers, and linking AI tools to CRMs for deeper insights and impact on revenue. Daniel encourages a curious, adaptable approach to career growth in product marketing and presales. Connect with him at [email protected] or on LinkedIn to keep the conversation going.

Today, I’m speaking with Patty Hager, Vice President of SMB Solution Engineering at Salesforce, Patty and I discuss AI in Go To Market and presales, we dive into her insight on forecasting the future job of an SE, and much more. Patty is passionate about inclusion in PreSales with her work as a council member of Women in Solutions Excellence PSC and director of WISE at Salesforce, and a previous PSC Ambassador. I also share insight into my experience in this area. You can connect with Patty here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattyhager/ Patty Hager shared her upcoming volunteer experience with Bridge to Rwanda through Salesforce's unique 1-1-1 philanthropic model. This initiative dedicates 1% of the company's equity, products, and employees' time to global community support.  You can find the organization here: https://www.bridge2rwanda.org/ Conclusion: Looking Ahead The integration of AI, continuous learning, and meaningful community involvement are crucial for the modern presales professional. By forecasting future job roles and staying ahead of industry trends, professionals can ensure their indispensable value to their organizations and clients. Best Ways to Get Involved and Stay Connected For more insights and to connect with Patty Hager, follow her on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for updates on her volunteer trip to Rwanda and join the PreSales Collective community for further engagement and learning opportunities.  

Today I speak with Matthew Young James, Senior Solutions Engineer at Codat, a 2024 PSC Ambassador, and the NYC PreSales guy. Cross-departmental relationships are not a choice in our profession, they are a part of everyday life - and I’d argue that they are one of the main reasons we exist We dive into his experience facing challenging relationships and let him share what he would have done differently. I also shared insight into my experience in this area - it was a fun conversation!  Nobody wants to take work home with them but sometimes it’s less of a choice - Matthew and I talk about how to do this better. Matthew's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ If you tuned in, please share your favorite takeaway with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pscgm/    

Today, I’m speaking with Evan Powell, Co-Founder of Reprise. We discuss market trends, where PreSales and Solutions folks can take advantage of the need in GTM today, and he shares his insights from designing enterprise solutions with what he refers to as a Demo Program. I love talking with Evan because he gets it. From D&D to his journey in Sales, he understands the challenges we face here in PreSales and loves the community. The title for todays episode is Founder Stories: Demo Programs meet buyers where they are w/Evan Powell We talk about: Buying in 2024 is different - we need to meet the prospect where they are Selling is a team sport - a Demo Program is necessary to enable your entire GTM team and help your buyer Trends in AI and Demo Automation One of my biggest takeaways is this: Now is the time to expand your influence. Executives are hungry for the information you have and the unique skills you bring to the table. Don’t squander the chance. There are so many golden nuggets here - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and thank you for tuning in. Thank you for joining me today on this epic adventure with Evan Powell You can find Evan on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanwapowell/ Evan's email [email protected], And Reprise.com Thank you for tuning in. At PSC we are about learning, connecting, and growing. I believe investing in these three pillars will greatly increase your success and happiness at work and in life.    

Today, I’m speaking with Diana Cappello, Director of Solutions Consulting at Eightfold and Founder of Templates for SCs. Diana is a true leader in Solutions, driving professional growth and the conversation in our community around diversity, leadership, and more. Diana has presented at multiple industry conferences and founded her new venture - templates for SEs. The title for today's episode is Hiring: How to Build an Inclusive Bench We will dive into the important and sometimes sticky subject of building inclusive teams on purpose, focused on sourcing goals and Diana’s unique approach to building incredibly successful teams. We talk about: Where to find great talent How to build teams for performance Where a little change can make a massive difference One of my biggest takeaways is to build a sourcing goal instead of a hiring one. Simply finding the right sources is key - and great talent is most likely already employed. You have to go the extra mile as a hiring manager to make it happen. You can find Diana on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianacappello/ Templates 4 SCs: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Templates4SCs Thank you for tuning in. At PSC we are about learning, connecting, and growing. I believe investing in these three pillars will greatly increase your success and happiness at work and in life.    

Welcome to the PreSales Podcast. It’s your host and PSC GM, Chris Mabry. Today, I have the privilege of speaking with David Duffett, a Telecom presales engineer who has transitioned into an award-winning speaker and coach. David is the mastermind behind “Let the Geek Speak” and has delivered numerous impactful keynotes to technical sales organizations. You might recall his engaging session at our Elevate and Engage summit, where he was the esteemed Keynote for the day. The title for today's episode is Techie Turbo: Accelerating Personal Achievement through Comms Skills. Today, we delve into David’s 7 Power Presenting Protocols, a treasure trove of practical tips and strategies. His passion lies in helping us technical professionals create effective structures and frameworks for our presentations, enabling us to make a real impact. We talk about: Why Technical people are not always the best communicators How our ability to connect and engage affects our perceived value Where a little change can make a massive difference. David Duffett's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidduffett/ PreSales Collective Elevate and Engage Summit Keynote w/David Duffett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0JTDnNMG9Y There are so many golden nuggets here - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and thank you for tuning in.

Welcome to the Presales Podcast. I'm Chris Mabry, your host and PreSales Collective general manager. Today, I spoke with Akash Bensall, founder and COO of Storylane. The title for today's episode is Founder Stories Buyer Enablement with Demo Automation We dive into Akash's journey from his move to America, his experience as a solution engineer, and the adventure of entrepreneurship. We talk about product-led growth, the new mantra of buyer enablement, how buyers are changing, and how companies need to adapt to this trend. Akasha's story and his journey is incredible. One of my biggest takeaways is how we can show up every day to do consistent work, even boring work, with compassion for ourselves and everyone around us and have a little fun while we're doing it. You can find Akash here on LinkedIn. And, of course, on the Storylane website. Thank you so much for tuning in. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  

Welcome to the PreSales Podcast!  Your host and PSC GM, Chris Mabry, speaks with Ross Rotherham,  Leadership Coach, PreSales Leader, holistic medicine practitioner, and much more. The title for today's episode is Coaching for PreSales Leaders. We will dive into Ross’s journey from holistic medicine to coaching, defining and differentiating mentoring and coaching. We unpack the different styles and uses of coaching and provide tips for Leaders to enhance their coaching using the concepts of Curious Communication: Conscious Listening, Effective Questioning, and Intentional Presence We barely scratch the surface on Ross’s journey and how his craft can give us an incredible advantage in our business conversations and in life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and thank you for tuning in. You can reach Ross here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-rotherham-coach/